S. African white extremist's murder photos leaked

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - Three photos of the bloodied body of South African white extremist leader Eugene Terre'Blanche were leaked on social networking site Facebook before being shown in court, prosecutors said Friday.

The gruesome images of his body hacked by a machete and his head beaten were posted to a group's page called "Boere Krisis Aksie", or Afrikaner Crisis Action, that includes racist comments alongside hundreds of pictures of dead or beaten whites and black violence.

Afrikaners are descended from the first European settlers in South Africa.

"We are working closely with police to ensure that the matter is investigated for possible action against those responsible," National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga said.

"It is clearly defeating the ends of justice as most of the pictures have not yet been presented in court as evidence."

The photos appeared to have been removed by Friday morning.

Two black farm workers went on trial Monday, accused of bludgeoning to death Terre'Blanche at his farmhouse outside Ventersdorp on April 3, 2010.

The workers -- Chris Mahlangu, 29, and a 16-year-old -- are accused of hacking to death the co-founder of the far-right Afrikaner Resistance Movement (AWB).

They have pleaded not guilty to murder, housebreaking, and attempted robbery with aggravating circumstances.

The teenager, who left school to work as a cattle herdsman for Terre'Blanche, denies involvement in the killing.

Mahlangu claims he acted in self-defence.

Testimony in the trial is scheduled to end on October 21.